World’s Fair Toys

1933 World’s Fair

The 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, whose theme was a Century of Progress, had some of their souvenir toy saxophones made in Japan. Now how’s that for foreshadowing!

Source: eBay.com

This little toy sax is 4½” long according to the seller, and bears a striking resemblance to the German-made Luxophon—which also happens to be 4½” long, and also happened to be a souvenir for the fair. (See below.)

This souvenir was likely originally painted silver according to the seller, because the left side still shows remnants of this silver coating.

Source: eBay.com

This Luxophon was also a souvenir of the 1933 fair in Chicago. The official World’s Fair sticker on this particular example is in much better condition however.

Source: isaacmuzzy antiques on eBay.com

I suspect this was not used as a toy, and not even handled much.

Source: isaacmuzzy antiques on eBay.com

1939 – 1940 World’s Fair

In contrast to the above 1933 Chicago World’s Fair toys, the 1939 – 1940 New York World’s Fair, toy sax souvenir was American-made. It too bears a strong resemblance to the Luxophon, as well as the German-made, Sirenephone (which is nearly double the size of the Luxophon). In its size however, it more closely resembles the former, because according to seller knf16, this collectible is 4″ long.

Source: knf16 on eBay.com

Source: knf16 on eBay.com

This interesting little piece of World’s Fair history is stamped with its identifying data, as well as the Trylon and Perisphere, which were the centre pieces of the New York World’s Fair. These structures were used on millions of promotional materials—such as this saxophone-shaped tin toy.

Source: knf16 on eBay.com

Here are 2 more of these interesting American-made, saxophone-shaped, World’s Fair souvenirs. The latter seller noted that these were: 4” high, 3.5” deep and 3/8” wide.

Source: Atomic Keegs

Unfortunately this one was missing its mouthpiece.

Source: Atomic Keegs

In December 2011, the eBay shop Recent Find Z had one of these New York World’s Fair saxophone-shaped toys for sale. This one luckily still had its mouthpiece.

Source: Recent Find Z

In the photo above, as well as the ones below, you can clearly see the similarities between this souvenir, and the same-size, German Luxophon.

Source: Recent Find Z

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